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Settlement for 2019 cyberstalking
eBay agreed to pay $46.15 million to David and Ina Steiner as part of a settlement resolving a cyberstalking and harassment case tied to a 2019 campaign aimed at silencing their critiques of the company.
“eBay has reached a settlement with a pair of journalists who sued the company”
The Massachusetts couple, who run the EcommerceBytes newsletter and website, said former eBay employees targeted them with threats and anonymous deliveries that included live cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath and a book on surviving the loss of a spouse.
Prosecutors said then-CEO Devin Wenig told his communications chief to "take her down," while the comms exec told eBay's former security team lead to do "whatever it takes" to silence Ina Steiner.
The settlement also includes payments from former executives, including $2 million from Wenig, $500,000 from former eBay executive Wendy Jones and $50,000 from former eBay executive Steve Wymer, according to the settlement terms described by Engadget and ABC30 Fresno.
Threats, bizarre items, and quotes
ABC30 Fresno reported that the Steiners asked a federal judge in June to restore the case to the trial calendar after a tentative settlement in February, and they reached a new settlement this month.
In an email response to questions from The Associated Press, Ina Steiner said, "David and I were on the same page that this settlement should and must be made public" and added, "We hope that this case will serve as a deterrent."
Engadget said the threats included live cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath and a book on surviving the loss of a spouse, and it reported that seven eBay security employees were charged and pled guilty in a case brought in 2020.
eBay said in its statement that the 2019 conduct was "wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened," and it said the behavior was "not representative of eBay's culture" after new leaders joined and it strengthened policies, procedures, controls and training.
Charity commitments and accountability
The settlement terms described by Engadget and ABC30 Fresno included $6 million in charitable contributions to various nonprofit organizations, with Wenig giving $1 million in Ina Steiner's name to a charity that supports First Amendment rights.
“eBay will commit $6 million in charitable contributions to various nonprofit organizations”
ABC30 Fresno said the agreement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly, and it described the settlement as resolving more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign.
Christopher Murphy of Scalli Murphy Law, who represented the Steiners, said the case was about "protect journalists and publishers, hold those responsible accountable, deter future corporate misconduct" and help ensure others would never have to endure what they experienced.
The Guardian reported that the settlement included a "strongly-worded" statement about the conduct of three of its top former executives, and it quoted Murphy saying, "We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences."
